UN Council deadlocked on Palestinian bid

The UN Security Council cannot agree on whether to accept Palestine as a member of the United Nations, according to a draft report of a membership committee obtained by AFP. "The committee was unable to make a unanimous recommendation to the Security Council," said the report, adding to the troubles faced by the Palestinian application made by president Mahmud Abbas on September 23. The United States has vowed to block any approval given by the 15-member Security Council but the council's membership committee still has to consider the bid. The draft report avoids saying which countries supported or opposed the bid and whether there was a majority in favor or against. It said simply that "differing views were expressed". The committee will meet on Friday when it must decide what action to take on the Palestinian demand. The report could be changed in that time. Any final vote on the bid at the full Security Council would need nine votes in favor, without any veto by one of the five permanent members. Brazil, China, India, Lebanon, Russia and South Africa have publicly backed the Palestinian case. Nigeria and Gabon have not indicated their vote but are expected to back the admission. The United States has said it will veto and Britain, Colombia and France announced at a meeting of the committee last week that they would abstain. Germany has not yet announced its stance, but is expected to abstain or vote no, diplomats said. Portugal and Bosnia are expected to abstain.